Pick the Pros: What to Look for When Hiring a Housekeeper

Letting a stranger into your home to clean isn’t something you should rush into. If you’re hiring a housekeeper, make sure you ask the right questions and get the right information.

Keep reading for your quick guide to finding the right professional housekeeping service.

What Does a Housekeeper Do?

If you’ve never hired a housekeeper before, it might help to review what exactly a housekeeper does. In America, a “housekeeper” is an employee who comes into the home of their employer to do domestic work tasks. A housekeeper performs duties like cleaning, organizing the home, running errands, and cooking.

Not all housekeepers do the same things. Exactly what duties a housekeeper will perform is negotiated on an individual basis between each homeowner and their housekeeper. They should have some expertise in common chemicals and techniques.

Hiring a Housekeeper

It’s easy to hire a housekeeper these days. People are working part-time more often. Part-time employees may be willing to pick up a few hours as a housekeeper.

You can find a housekeeper easily by placing a digital classified ad or simply searching for services in your area. There are several full-time marketplace sites that give reviews.

Consider hiring a professional housekeeping service. A professional crew takes all the guesswork out of the hiring process. They’ve already based their reputation on the individual hires, so you don’t have to worry about it.

Once you have contacted a prospective housekeeper, it’s time to interview the person before they get to work. Write down any questions you want to ask a housekeeper in advance. The interview process is important because you’ll be inviting this person into your home, so you want to get to know them before they start working.

Before your interview, plan ahead. Write your questions to ask a housekeeper down in advance. Write down the things that are important to you, and the duties they will have to perform.

Your housekeeper interview questions should include questions about basic cleaning methods. Ask how they would clean a window, or clean the bathroom.

Security

First of all, don’t tell a stranger how to access your home right away. If you have a key stashed under a rock near your front door, you don’t need to reveal that information to someone you don’t know. Compose your housekeeping interview questions with security first in your mind.

You can conduct an interview at a neutral third party location, like a coffee shop or a bakery. It’s OK to meet a stranger in a public place instead of the intimate and private setting of the home. One of the most important qualities of a housekeeper is trust and security.

You can perform a digital background check on a person as well. Be sure to get their permission first if you are entering an employer/employee relationship. There are many online services that can check or criminal histories and even run credit checks.

Availability

Make sure that your potential hire will be available exactly when you need them.

The whole point of a housekeeper is to make your life more convenient, not less. Make sure the person has the time to accomplish everything you need to be done in the right time frame. Also, make sure they have the transportation to get to and from the job.

It’s Time to Get Clean!

Your busy life demands the help of a housekeeper. Once you know what you want, hiring a housekeeper is easy. Look for a professional with the experience and reputation to get the job done in a safe and effective manner.

Check out our blog for more info on the housekeeping profession, or to find your own residential cleaning provider today.